The Aspidoras genera
differ from Corydoras by their different
behaviour such as their swimming habits. The eyes
are smaller, body smaller and a smaller head shape
in Aspidoras compared with Corydoras.
Aspidoras posses a duel fontanel bone structure
in the skull whereas Corydoras have only the
one larger fontanel. Aspidoras menezesi is
fairly uncommon in the hobby and the species that
have/where imported as such are probably A.
taurus from
the Mato Grosso State. Many species of Aspidoras
are difficult to tell apart unless there is catchment
information available. Lineage:
All Aspidoras belong to Lineage 2 with the
exception of A.
pauciradiatuswhich
will prove to be a Corydoras and if a revision
is carried out will be Gastrodermus (Cope,
1878) and a member of Lineage 5 alongside members
of the "elegans group". Aquarium
Care: With all of this genus they
are best kept in groups of six or more and are best
housed with small fishes that are not aggressive.
Provide a planted area in the tank for cover and include
a soft substrate such as sand or small rounded gravel.
Diet:Flake, tablet foods, small live and frozen
foods. Remarks:In the not too distant future this species
will be a synonym to Aspidoras
raimundi,
with A. spilotus also a synonym as they
are seemingly all the same species.Many
species of Aspidoras are difficult to tell
apart unless there is area catchment information available.
Common
Name:
Menezes's
Aspidoras
Synonyms:
Aspidoras spilotus
Family:
Callichthyidae
Distribution:
South America:
Brazil : Ceará,
Rio Granjeiro at Crato, 07°10’S, 39°25’W,
tributary on left bank of Rio Salgado.
Size:
Male: 4.5cm (1¾ins)
Female: 5.0cm (2ins)
Temp:
22-24°C
(71-75°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
Reference:
Alexandrou, Markos
& Taylor, Martin. (2011). Evolution,
ecology and taxonomy of the Corydoradinae revisited. Ian A. M. Fuller & Hans-Georg Evers
(2011). Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish Supplement
1. Ian Fuller Enterprises. ScotCat
Article:
The Genus Aspidoras. ScotCat
Factsheet
no. 37. July 1999
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